STD Testing Specialist

Austin Southwest Obgyn

Souhail Asfouri, MD

Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Austin, TX

As a sexually active woman, you’re at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially if you have unsafe sex. Many STDs don’t show symptoms, so the only way to know if you caught one is to undergo regular testing. At Austin Southwest OB/GYN in Austin, Texas, Dr. Souhail Asfouri offers confidential STD screenings for diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and human papillomavirus virus (HPV). He also provides effective treatments to protect your health. Schedule your consultation online or by phone to learn more about STD testing.

STD Testing Q & A

Why should I be tested for STDs?

The Centers for Disease Control estimates the diagnosis of 19 million new STD infections this year. If you become unknowingly infected with an STD and don’t receive proper treatment, you may develop medical problems:

Infertility

Reproductive cancers

Pregnancy complications

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Not knowing whether you have an STD also puts your sexual partners at risk for infection. Prompt STD diagnosis and treatment prevent complications and the spread of the infection.

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in the United States. You can get this disease through oral, anal, and vaginal contact. When you have chlamydia, you may not show any symptoms, or you may experience one or more of the following:

Genital irritation or itching

Strong-smelling vaginal discharge

Pain during intercourse or urination

If chlamydia remains untreated, you may also experience lower abdominal pain, fever, or nausea when the infection spreads.

Chlamydia is curable, and Dr. Asfouri prescribes antibiotics for treatment. You can reduce your risk of contracting chlamydia by avoiding sex with infected persons and using condoms.

What is gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea infections spread through oral, anal, or vaginal contact. You may not experience symptoms after you become infected. When the infection is in your urinary tract or uterus, you’re likely to experience some of these symptoms:

Increased vaginal discharge

Pain or burning while urinating

Vaginal bleeding between periods

Gonorrhea can also infect other areas of your body, including your rectum and throat.

What is HPV?

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a group of related viruses named for the warts on your genitals the disease causes. Certain strains of HPV cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, or vulva.

You can contract HPV through skin-to-skin contact and sexual intercourse with an infected person. Symptoms may not present immediately after contracting the infection, which makes determining when and where you caught it difficult.

If you do experience symptoms, you may see warts that appear as small bumps on your genitals. Dr. Asfouri can identify genital warts during a physical examination. Regular Pap smears to screen for HPV when symptoms aren’t present.

HPV vaccinations are available to help prevent an HPV infection.There is no treatment for the virus, but Dr. Asfouri can treat your genital warts with prescription medication.

Schedule an appointment online or by phone to learn more about STD testing.